I just want more
MILNER’S DRIVEN BY FEAR OF CAREER FIZZLING OUT
JAMES MILNER has revealed that the day he loses the will to win is the day he will hang up his boots.
But the Premier League stalwart also insists the desire in him to keep on winning is stronger than ever – as it is throughout a Liverpool team he says is hurting like hell.
Only four men have played more Premier League games than Milner, but the Reds’ struggles this season have made him more determined to rediscover his thirst for victory.
And he admitted the last thing he wants is for his career to fade out into obscurity – instead he wants the blaze of glory of more trophies before he retires, starting with this season’s Champions League.
“It’s just a will to win, and the drive to be the best you can every day,” he said, when asked how he keeps his incredible level aged 35. “When you lose that you need to retire pretty quickly.”
Not that he is even considering doing that just yet – especially as his leadership is required to steer Liverpool out of unprecedented waters in the Jurgen Klopp era, and back towards the glory trail. They have just nine games left to get back into the Premier League top four but there is also the Champions League, and a winnable tie against Real Madrid for a place in the last four.
For Milner, ending on a high is huge. “You always want to finish your career strongly, you don’t want to just sort of melt off into the background,” he told the club’s website.
“Every interview I do now my age is brought up. I still feel fine in myself, so why not push for as long as you can?
“You’re a long time retired, so I want to keep going. Obviously at Liverpool the demand is we win trophies as well.”
There are even greater demands at the moment, with Liverpool battling through an injury-ravaged season.
Fans are shocked at such a dip in form after Liverpool dominated only a year ago, and Milner insisted the players are hurting just as much.
“People don’t see the dressing room after a game, they don’t see the training ground when we lose,” he added.
“We know how many people want us to do well, so we’re desperate to do well for them.”
Milner though is adamant this “incredible” group of players will turn things around.
He said: “The level we’ve been at is ridiculous really, in terms of the amount of wins we’ve had and the relentlessness. But it’s how you deal with the dips. We have to deal with this as fast as possible and come out of it strong.
“It’ll come, there’s no doubt about that, because the desire, the work-rate and the ability is still there.”